Rug rolling device



Oct. 28, 1969 A. MANN, JR 3,474,980

RUG ROLILING DEVICE I Filed Dec. 11, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet l I N VEN TOR. FRED ,4. 4 ,4/v/v m.

F. A. MANN, JR

RUG ROLLING DEVICE Oct. 28, 1969 Filed Dec. 11,, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FRED A. MAN/V (JR.

flTTO/PNEX Oct. 28, 1969 F. A. MANN. JR 3, 7 ,9 0.

RUG ROLLING DEVICE Filed Dec. 11, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 t I N VENTOR.

RESERVO/P I 951 ,4 MANN (JR.

' B 1 m! W ,4 TTO/Q/VEY Oct. 28, 1969 F. A. MANN. JR 3,474,980

RUG ROLLING DEVICE E'iled Dec. 11, 196'. 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. FRED A. MANN (JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,474,980 RUG ROLLING DEVICE Fred A. Mann, Jr., RR. 1, Sturgis, Mich. 49091 Filed Dec. 11, 1967, Ser. No. 696,677 Int. Cl. B65h 17/02; B21c 47/00 US. Cl. 24267.1 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A rug rolling apparatus in which a rug or carpet runner is fed into a conveyor which carries the rug into a rollback means causing the leading edge of the rug to roll back upon itself. The conveyor is then tilted and the roller rug is guided in a manner so as to retain its rolled form as it falls into an awaiting storage bin.

Summary of the invention This invention pertains to a rug rolling apparatus having a feed table which includes an endless conveyor. The said conveyor is pivoted at one end nearest the feed end of the feed table and is positionable from a substantially horizontal to a downwardly inclining position. A roll-back means is mounted above and adjacent the free end of said conveyor causing the leading edge of the rug being carried by the horizontally positioned conveyor to roll back upon itself, whereupon the conveyor is tilted and the rolled rug falls into an awaiting storage bin.

In rug treating and cleaning plants, it is advantageous to be able to treat, roll and store carpet runners and throw rugs in an efficient, continuous manner. This feature is accomplished by the apparatus of this invention in which a rug is fed into a conveyor, treated, if desired, and then caused to automatically roll back upon itself in a relatively tight roll. The rolled rug is then caused to fall off the conveyor into a storage bin guided by means insuring retention of its rolled state. The rolling operation is rapidly repetitive, so that one rug after another may be fed into the conveyor and collected and stored in rolled form in a bin.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a rolling apparatus in which carpets and rugs are rolled and stored in an eflicient, rapid, repetitive high volume manner.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a rolling apparatus in which carpet and rugs are rolled and then deposited in substantially the same rolled state in a storage bin.

Another object of this invention is to provide a rolling apparatus in which carpets and rugs are treated, rolled and stored in an efficient high volume manner.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent upon a reading of the inventions description.

Brief description of the drawings FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmented elevational view of the adjustment means for the feed roller utilized in the embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmented vertical section view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the device.

3,474,980 Patented Oct. 28, 1969 FIG. 7 is a fragmented side view with parts shown in section showing the rug treating and feeding mechanisms of this invention.

FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are elevational illustrations of the sequential steps in the operation of the device in rolling a rug and discharging the roll.

FIG. 12 is a fragmented elevational illustration similar to FIG. 11 showing an alternative embodiment of this invention.

Description of the preferred embodiment The preferred embodiments illustrated are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. They are chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

This invention pertains to a rug and carpet rolling apparatus 10, an embodiment of which is pictorially shown in FIG. 1. A feed table 14 is mounted atop a vertically disposed rigid support frame 12. Positioned adjacent feed table 14 is a conveyor unit. The conveyor unit includes a plurality of friction endless belt members 16 mounted about and rotatably supported by two cylindrical pulleys 18 and 20. Pulleys 18 and 20 are mounted upon parallel transverse shafts 22 and 24, respectively, each of which is journal-ed at its end portions to longitudinally extending side frame members 26. Frame members 26 are fixedly retained in a substantially parallel relationship by cross supports 28 (see FIG. 8) fixedly connected thereto and spaced from the upper and lower runs of belt members 16. Suitable belt tightening means (not shown) may be provided in the device.

The conveyor which includes belt members 16, pulleys 18 and 20, transverse shafts 22 and 24, and frame members 26 and 28, is pivotally mounted upon shaft 22 positioned proximate to feed table 14. Shaft 22, which extends through side frame members 26, is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings carried by exteriorly positioned side members 30 which form a part of the rigid support frame 12. Supporting the free end portion of the conveyor to enable selective pivotal positioning of the conveyor is a plate 32 mounted to cross supports 28 and connected to a suitable actuator, such as the piston rod of a fluid pressure actuated piston and cylinder assembly 34. The opposite end of assembly 34 is connected to a lower support member of frame 12. Piston and cylinder assembly 34 is preferably of the hydraulic type and may be controlled by a treadle valve 36 connected in a line to a pressure supply source including pump means (not shown). The conveyor 16 preferably utilizes a plurality of narrow endless belts spacedly disposed about pulleys 18 and 20 in a longitudinal parallel relationship, but may consist of a single wide endless belt.

Overlying the feed table 14 is a feed roller 38. Feed roller 38 is of a length substantially equal to the width of the conveyor, and is mounted upon a transverse shaft 40 disposed parallel to shaft 22 of the conveyor. To accommodate various thicknesses of rugs and carpets, feed roller 38 is vertically adjustable. The end portions of shaft 40 are supported by brackets 42 which are slidably mounted in face engagement with frame members 44 which are in turn rigid upstanding extensions of support frame 12. Each bracket 42 has opposed side flanges 45 which journal a transverse shaft 46. One end of shaft 46 is extended angularly to form an angularly projecting handle 48. A cam 50 having a plurality of angularly displaced faces is fixedly mounted on shaft 46 between the flanges 44 and bears upon the upper end or head of a vertically adjustable member 52 carried by a bracket 53 which is secured to frame member 44. As can be best seen in FIG. 5, frame members 44 are apertured to receive shaft 40. The frame apertures 54 are of sufficient dimension to permit the vertical displacement of shaft 40 to accommodate various thicknesses of carpets or rugs fed under roller 38. To vertically adjust the roller 38, handles 48 are turned to cause engagement of a selected face of each cam 50 with member 52 and the consequent displacement of brackets 42 on frame members 44. Substantial axial shifting of roller 38 is prevented by collars 56 fixedly mounted about shaft 40 and exteriorly positioned adjacent bearing members 58 mounted upon brackets 42 and journaling shaft 40.

Feed table 14 is transversely slotted at 57 under the feed roller 38. Disposed below the feed table 14 and discharging into the transverse slot 57 is an elongated transverse nozzle member 58 which may be mounted upon frame 12 in any convenient manner. Nozzle member 58 preferably has a bore and a plurality of discharge orifices 59 spaced apart along its length and oriented in an upwardly discharging direction between the edge portions of feed table 14 defining the slot 57. Disposed below the nozzle 58 is a tray 60 which also may be mounted upon frame 12 in any convenient manner. Fluid supply and drain lines 55 connect nozzle 58 and tray 60 to a reservoir 61 containing a treating fluid. Pump means P and valve V are connected in the fluid circuit and are operable to cause and control delivery of the treating fluid under pressure from the reservoir 61 to nozzle 58 for discharge through orifices 59 onto a carpet or rug as it passes under roller 38. Tray 60 catches all the fluid not retained by the carpet or rug. The treating fluid captured by tray 60 is returned to the reservoir. A heater (not shown) may be utilized to heat the fluid in the reservoir thereby maintaining the treating fluid at a desired temperature.

Overlying the free end of the conveyor is a transverse feed-back roller 62. Feed-back roller 62 preferably extends the width of the conveyor and is mounted upon a shaft 64 which is parallel to shaft 24 of the conveyor. Shaft 64 is preferably disposed towards the direction of carpet or rug feed and does not directly overlie shaft 24. Shaft 64 is journaled in parts or stanchions 66 which project upwardly from the sides of frame 12. The peripheral cylindrical surface of roller 62 is Slightly spaced from the upper surfaces of the belts 16 so as to be engaged by the leading edge of each carpet or rug being carried by the conveyor.

A drive motor 68 is mounted on a plate 72 pivoted or hinged at 70 to the frame 12 below the level of the table 14 and the conveyor. The free end of motor plate 72 is restrained in its upward pivotal movement by a retaining bolt 74. Fixedly attached to shaft 76 of the motor is a sprocket or pulley 78. Trained about the sprocket or pulley 78 is an endless flexible drive member 80 such as a belt or chain. Drive member 80 is also trained about a sprocket or pulley 82 which is mounted on an extended end portion of conveyor shaft 22, a pulley or sprocket 84 which is fixedly mounted on an extended end portion of shaft 40, and an idler pulley or sprocket 86. Idler 86 is rotatable upon one end of level 88 which is pivoted intermediate its ends to a side channel 30 of frame 12 at 90. Idler 86 is urged into engagement with drive member 80 by an adjustable tension spring 92 secured to and extending between the opposite end of link 88 and frame member 44. Drive member 80 engages pulleys or sprockets 82 and 84 in such a manner that, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 6, clockwise rotation of motor shaft 76 causes counterclockwise rotation of shaft 22 of the conveyor and clockwise rotation of shaft 40 and feed roller 38.

Fixedly attached to the opposite end of shaft 22 is a pulley or sprocket 94. An endless flexible drive member 96, such as a pulley or chain, is trained about pulley or sprocket 94, about a pulley or sprocket 98 which is fixedly attached to an extended end portion of roller shaft 64, and about an idler pulley or sprocket assembly 100 which may be of similar construction to idler 86, lever 88 and spring 92, and capable of maintaining tension upon drive member 96. As viewed in FIGS. 1 and 6, counterclockwise rotation of shaft 22 causes counterclockwise rotation of feed-back roller 62.

A cover guard 102 is mounted upon frame members or stanchions 66 and partially covers roller 62. A cross member 104 is fixedly mounted on cover 102 in a substantially parallel relationship with shaft 64. A plurality of depending hinge plates or fingers 105 are mounted on cross member 104 and the bottom lip of guard 102. The hinge pivot 106 of each finger 105 is located approximately at the level of feed table 14 and of the upper operative position of the conveyor. Lower plates 108 depend from hinge pivots 106 adjacent to the discharge end of the conveyor and carry a cross bar 109.

During treating and rolling of a carpet or rug the upper surfaces of belt member 16 of the conveyor are positioned horizontally in substantially the same plane as the top of feed table 14. A carpet runner or rug 110 may be fed nap down under roller 38 and drawn thereby over nozzle 58 (see FIG. 7) so as to be treated by fluid issuing from nozzle apertures 59 under pressure. The carpet runner or rug 110 is continuously advanced (see FIG. 8) by the combined action of roller 38 and the conveyor until the forward or leading edge of the carpet runner or rug contacts roller 62. Roller 62 rotates counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 6, i.e. opposite the direction of travel of the rug and preferably has a peripheral speed greater than the speed of the roller 38 and the conveyor. Due to the rotation of roller 62 being the reverse of the direction of travel of the carpet runner or rug 110, the latter is caused to roll back upon itself (see FIG. 9) until it is tightly rolled (see FIG. 10).

When the rug is fully rolled the treadle 36 is tripped to operate the actuator 34 which causes the conveyor to swing downwardly about shaft 22 to an inclined position permitting the rug roll to pass under roller 62. The carpet runner or rug is retained in its rolled condition by the conjoint actions of the conveyor and the roller 62 until it passes clear of roller 62 and it then contacts the free swinging lower plates 108 and the cross bar 109 which act in conjunction with the conveyor to restrain the rolled carpet runner or rug from unrolling as it falls free thereof and into a discharge or storage bin 112.

As soon as the trailing end of a carpet runner or rug passes clear of feed roller 38, another runner or rug may be fed into the feed roller. In this manner the rolled carpet runners or rugs are continuously deposited into the storage bin.

An alternative embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG. 12. A roller 114 is journaled to the frame 12 below and preferably slightly rearwardly of the discharge end of the conveyor in its inclined discharging position. The roller 114 is either driven or is free to rotate in the same direction as the conveyor. As the rolled rug or runner is discharged from the conveyor, it engages roller 114 and is guided for discharge to bin 112. This roller 114 assists lower plates 108 in retaining the rug in a rolled condition as it is deposited into the storage bin 112.

It will be understood that the invention herein described is not to be limited to the details herein given but it may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A rug rolling apparatus comprising:

a rigid frame;

a feed table mounted upon said frame and including an endless conveyor having one end pivotally supported on said frame, the upper peripheral surface of said conveyor being substantially horizontal when in a first position and being inclined downwardly from the plane of said feed table top when pivoted to a second position;

drive means for imparting rug advancing movement to said conveyor; means mounted adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor for causing the leading edge of a rug carried by said conveyor to roll back upon itself; and

means for pivoting said conveyor from said first to said second position causing said rug to be discharged from said conveyor in a rolled state.

2. The rug rolling apparatus of claim 1 including a rug guide means mounted on said frame.

3. The rug rolling apparatus of claim 1 including a inction roller generally overlying said feed table and ad ustable to accommodate varying thicknesses of rugs, drlve means for imparting rug advancement movement to said roller, whereby said rug may be drawn under said roller and advanced to and by said conveyor.

4. The rug rolling apparatus of claim, 1, wherein said roll-back means includes a roller mounted to said frame above the discharge end of said conveyor, said roller being spaced a distance of less than said rug thickness from said conveyor, and means for rotating said last mentioned roller in a direction opposite that of said conveyor and at a greater peripheral speed than said conveyor.

5. The rug rolling apparatus of claim 1, and a flexible depending member disposed adjacent to and extending below the discharge end of said conveyor adapted to slidably engage said rug as it is discharged from the conveyor and thereby assisting in maintaining the rug in its rolled state.

6. The rug rolling apparatus of claim 5, and a roller mounted below said discharge end of said conveyor to assist in maintaining the rug in its rolled state as it is discharged.

7. The rug rolling apparatus of claim 6, wherein said last mentioned roller is power driven to rotate in the same direction as said conveyor.

8. The rug rolling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said endless conveyor includes a plurality of belts positioned in a substantially parallel spaced arrangement between rotatable pulleys, each said pulley being mounted upon a shaft journalled to side members, the end portions of the shaft nearest the receiving end of said feed table extending into and journaled to the frame.

9. The rug rolling assembly of claim 8, wherein said conveyor positioning means includes a fluid pressure actuated unit disposed below said conveyor and interconnecting said conveyor and a part of said frame.

10. The rug rolling apparatus of claim 1, in which said feed table contains a transverse slot, and a nozzle means is disposed beneath said slot for discharging treating material through said slot and onto the rug as said rug is advanced over said slot.

11. The rug rolling assembly of claim 10, wherein said slot substantially underlies said feed roller.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,662,577 3/ 1928 Johnson.

2,706,094 4/1955 Dyken 24266 2,939,645 6/ 1960 Rowlands et a1. 242-56 2,881,984 4/1959 Dyken 242-56 LEONARD D. CHRISTIAN, Primary Examiner 

